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Expanding habitat suitability under changing climate and land use may drive rapid expansion of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) in Bangladesh

by: Hasan, Najmul; Dutta, Joya; Noman, Mohammed; Rahman, Md. Mizanur; Rudra, Sajib; Auawal, Abdul; Islam, Md. Rafiqul; Uddin, Md. Asir; Uddin, Harij; Hasan, Md. Towfiq; Ahsan, Md. Farid; Kuch, Ulrich; Ghose, Aniruddha; Haidar, Ibrahim Khalil Al; Chowdhury, Mohammad Abdul Wahed

Publication date: 2025-6-17
Usage: Attribution 4.0 International
Topics: Eco-climatic parameters, female-dominant population, geospatial parameters, land use, range expansion, rice cultivation, river networks, snake, species distribution model, Viperidae
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Collection: biodiversity
Contributor: Pensoft Publishers
Language: English
Rights: https://biodiversitylibrary.org/permissions
Rights-holder: Copyright held by individual article author(s).
Volume: 38
Item Size: 33.5M

Abstract: Eco-climatic and other environmental gradients significantly influence the geographic distribution of reptiles. In Bangladesh, the known range of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) has expanded extensively in recent decades. Using species distribution modelling, we analysed habitat suitability, dispersal pathways, interspecific competition, and population dynamics to explore the drivers behind this phenomenon. Our findings indicate a five-fold increase in climatically suitable area (76,716 km²) since 2015, attributed to higher cold-season temperatures and increased dry-season precipitation, facilitating the viper’s spread into previously unoccupied regions. The rapid dispersal of these snakes may have benefited from the strong currents of rivers, channels and seasonal waterways, and flat floodplain terrain. Additionally, the extension of agricultural and grassy habitats in new regions has provided abundant rodent prey and minimal predator or competitor pressures, creating ideal conditions for population growth. We also observed a female-biased population structure and large clutch sizes which may have further accelerated reproduction, contributed to rapid population expansion. In rural Bangladesh, where clinicians face multiple problems with the management of Russell’s viper envenoming, increasingly frequent human encounters with this highly dangerous snake have caused great public concern. Despite the observed range expansion, the species also faces challenges such as unsuitable temperature fluctuations, reduced precipitation in some regions, and anthropogenic threats, including anti-snake attitudes and killings. Given the increasing risk of human-snake conflicts, implementing effective snakebite management plans and conservation strategies is crucial to safeguard public health while ensuring the survival of this ecologically and economically important predator of rodents.
Addeddate: 2025-06-25 15:12:40
Bhl_virtual_titleid: 210917
Bhl_virtual_volume: v.38 (2025)
Call number: 10_3897_herpetozoa_38_e143411
Call-number: 10_3897_herpetozoa_38_e143411
Foldoutcount: 0
Genre: article
Identifier: expandinghabita38hasa
Identifier-ark: ark:/13960/s2g8bqxv065
Identifier-bib: 10_3897_herpetozoa_38_e143411
Identifier-doi: 10.3897/herpetozoa.38.e143411
Ocr: tesseract 5.3.0-6-g76ae
Ocr_detected_lang: en
Ocr_detected_lang_conf: 1.0000
Ocr_detected_script: Latin
Ocr_detected_script_conf: 1.0000
Ocr_module_version: 0.0.21
Ocr_parameters: -l eng
Page_number_confidence: 83
Page_number_module_version: 1.0.5
Page_range: 137-153
Pages: 17
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Possible copyright status: In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.
Ppi: 300
Source: Herpetozoa 38
Year: 2025